TO VEIL OR NOT TO VEIL

In the news today: 
"France's Ban on Face-Covering Islamic Veil Met With Defiance"
-France became the first country to ban the veils anywhere in public and veiled women are upset!

I'll admit, there are days I would relish covering my head.  Bad hair days.  Wrinkles appearing out of nowhere before their time!  The danger of being seen without makeup!

This reminds me of the day of the great storm...just a few weeks ago.  When the storm passed, the three of us decided to go for a drive and view the wind damage .... My daughter said, "Don't worry about makeup...we won't see anyone" (never believe those words) -  I was safe most of the ride, but at the last minute, as we were approaching the back entrance to the development - the car sputtered and died.  We coasted through the gate --- parked it --- then it happened.  The guard at the gate offered us a ride to the house.  Remember?  We wouldn't see anyone??  And to make it worse, my daughter got in the back seat of the man's car...on the passenger side...which meant I had to sit in the back seat behind the driver - which meant he could see me in his rear view mirror.   At that moment veiling the face would have been a good option.

The news article went on to say:
-French President Nicolas Sarkozy set the wheels in motion for the ban nearly two years ago, saying the veils imprison women and contradict this secular nation's values of dignity and equality. 
-Italy also has a law against concealing the face...but it's for security reasons.  
-Religious leaders have denounced the measure, and are struggling with what to advise the faithful.

Religious leaders remind me of Pharisees.  Max Lucado says:  "Legalism (religious rules) has no pity on people.  Legalism makes my opinion your burden, makes my opinion our boundary, makes my opinion your obligation."

The religious spirit and the Pharisaical spirit are twins. They both :
1.  Put heavy burdens on people
2.  Value tradition more than God's Word
3.  Are spiritually blind
4.  Demand you adhere to their rule of dress
5.  Cleanse the outside of their life only
6.  Persecute those who won't listen to them
7.  Judge those who do not keep their rules

Dallas Elder, The ValueGiver, Page 84 - 85:  Legalism breeds dysfunctional relationships, a false spirituality and diminishes community.  It is a selective and seductive social system, intricately wired to keep other people from gaining access and equality.  It delights in division.  Jesus spoke many indictments against them regarding their legalistic, heartless, self-serving form of religion.  He condemned them for creating burdens and barriers for people, whom God desired to enfold into His Family.

When will religious rules stop?  Probably ... never.  Not as long as men/women value their rules above God's Word.

When will spiritual freedom begin?  It will begin only when we recognize bondage and realize the freedom to be gained through serving Jesus Christ.

To veil or not to veil?  I think...Not!
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